Classics Department | Merchiston Castle School

The Department offers a colourful and vigorous experience of the classical world, its languages and its literature (including in translation).

We hope that your son will develop his awareness of the influence of the classical civilisations of Greece and Rome on our world today. More generally, pupils will gain a sensitivity to societies whose spiritual and moral values and priorities contrast with those of the modern western world.

In addition, we aim to encourage pupils to respond searchingly and personally to what they read; to think independently and analytically; to apply their evaluative skills to classical material; to express themselves with clarity and accuracy.

Small numbers in most of the sets allow there to be a really personal touch about Classics lessons, enabling each boy to flourish at his respective level.

Staff

Matthew Hillier

Head of Department

MA

Mr Hillier is the Head of Classics and teaches Latin, Classical Civilisation and Classical Greek throughout the School. He coaches cricket and fives. He was formerly Housemaster of Laidlaw South.

Stephanie Binnie

Teacher of English

MA

Mrs Binnie is a Sixth Form Tutor; she was formerly an Assistant Housemaster in Laidlaw. She was formerly an examiner for OCR GCSE English Literature and is now an examiner for Edexcel IGCSE English Literature. Having been Head of Drama for several years, she assumed the role of Head of English for five years from August 2015. Mrs Binnie also teaches Classical Civilisation up to A Level and Latin in the Junior Years.

Curriculum

The Classics Department teaches Latin, Classical Greek, and Classical Civilisation throughout the School.

Latin is compulsory for most boys in II and III Forms and then can be chosen for study in IV Form and at GCSE and A level. We use the Cambridge Latin Course in the lower years and then follow OCR syllabuses.

Classical Civilisation is offered as an alternative to Latin in IV Form and then can be chosen for study at GCSE and A Level. In IV Form we follow our own course studying topics of Roman life and reading a Greek play in translation. At GCSE we use the OCR syllabus and study the ‘Myth and Religion’ and ‘War and Warfare’ topics. The subject can be taken up at A Level with no prior knowledge. In the OCR syllabus we study the units on epic, Greek theatre and Roman politics.

Classical Greek is also offered in IV Form, and can then be chosen for study at GCSE and A level. We use Taylor’s ‘Greek to GCSE’ and follow OCR syllabuses.

Activities

Boys studying Latin in the Sixth Form attend conferences on their set texts and also take part in the international CICERO competition, involving translation of some demanding Latin text. Boys also participate in other competitions such as the Gilbert Murray Essay Competition. Boys studying Greek are able to immerse themselves in the ancient language by attending the university Greek plays; in 2016 we greatly enjoyed the Cambridge double bill.

Classical Civilisation groups and other interested pupils are taken to see productions of Greek dramas in Edinburgh, London and other cities. Most years there are several opportunities, including the experience of seeing well-known set texts performed live.

Classical Civilisation groups also visit the British Museum and Hadrian’s Wall, as relevant to their courses. We are excited by the new emphasis on material culture in the reformed OCR specifications, which brings further opportunity for trips to support pupils’ learning.

In 2023, pupils studying Latin and Classical Civilisation at GCSE and A Level will have the exciting opportunity to attend a trip to Rome in order to enhance their study of the subjects.

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